Today’s Feast: The Most Holy Name of Jesus.

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Susan Kehoe

Jesus Savior of Men

..God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name  that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Jesus is the Church. He is The Truth. The Way and The Light. He is at the heart of everything.   Here is an article on the background of the feast:

“The veneration of the Holy Name was encouraged by the example of St. Bernard of Clairvaux but the greatest promoters of this devotion were St. Bernardine of Siena and his follower St. John Capistrano. “They carried with them on their missions in the turbulent cities of Italy a copy of the monogram of the Holy Name, surrounded by rays, painted on a wooden tablet, wherewith they blessed the sick and wrought great miracles. At the close of their sermons they exhibited this emblem to the faithful and asked them to prostrate themselves, to adore the Redeemer of mankind.” (Catholic Encyclopedia)

The practice of showing the monogram of Jesus over gates and above doors largely begins with their exhortations.  In the sixteenth century the Holy Name was introduced as a liturgical feast. In the year 1530 Pope Clement VII first per­mitted the Order of Friars Minor to celebrate the Name of Jesus with its own proper Office.”

Read the entire article, Jesus: The Name Above all Names.


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Happy New Year

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Susan Kehoe

….and a Blessed Christmas! It is still Christmas until January 9th, The Baptism of the Lord.

As you may have noticed, I took a wee break from blogging.  My favorite deacon, at long last, took some time off from his secular job. It was great to have so much time together.  Deacon hubby always makes sure that we spend at least an hour talking even if he works long hours between his day job and Church.  He is convinced that it is one of the main reasons that we have such a strong marriage.

He is right of course. But I don’t know how he has the stamina to do all that he does.

Anyway, I hope, dear readers, that you all had a wonderful Christmas. Ours was wonderful and a little sad. We really miss our children and grand children.  I really got choked up talking to the grand babies.  But I keep trusting that God has a plan. God the father knows best.

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany. We used to call it “little Christmas”. I wish that we still celebrated it on the 6th.  Monsignor Pope has a post up where he addresses his concerns over the current Christmas calendar.If you are interested go read, On Time Warps and Missing Feasts: Puzzling Over the Confusion in the Christmas Cycle.

He also has an interesting post on the Epiphany:

There are so many wonderful details in the Epiphany story: the call of the Gentiles, the nations, and their enthusiastic response,  the significance of the star they see and the gifts they bring,  the dramatic interaction with Herod and their ultimate rejection of him in favor Christ.

In this meditation I would like especially to follow these wise men in their journey of faith. We can observe how they journey in stages from the dim light of a star to the bright and glorious Light of Jesus Christ. And, of course to authentically encounter the Lord is to experience conversion. All the elements of this story serve ultimately to cause them to “return to their country by another route.” Let’s look at the stages of their journey to Jesus, let’s walk the way of the wise men.

To walk with Monsignor and the wise men, please continue reading, Walking with the Wise Men: A Meditation on the Feast of Epiphany.

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Pope: God is Not Distant

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Susan Kehoe

Merry Christmas!  Here is Pope Benedict’s Christmas message to all of us.

“Verbum caro factum est” – “The Word became flesh” (Jn 1:14).

Dear brothers and sisters listening to me here in Rome and throughout the world, I joyfully proclaim the message of Christmas: God became man; he came to dwell among us. God is not distant: he is “Emmanuel”, God-with-us. He is no stranger: he has a face, the face of Jesus.

This message is ever new, ever surprising, for it surpasses even our most daring hope. First of all, because it is not merely a proclamation: it is an event, a happening, which credible witnesses saw, heard and touched in the person of Jesus of Nazareth! Being in his presence, observing his works and hearing his words, they recognized in Jesus the Messiah; and seeing him risen, after his crucifixion, they were certain that he was true man and true God, the only-begotten Son come from the Father, full of grace and truth (cf. Jn 1:14).

“The Word became flesh”. Before this revelation we once more wonder: how can this be? The Word and the flesh are mutually opposed realities; how can the eternal and almighty Word become a frail and mortal man? There is only one answer: Love. Those who love desire to share with the beloved, they want to be one with the beloved, and Sacred Scripture shows us the great love story of God for his people which culminated in Jesus Christ.

God in fact does not change: he is faithful to himself. He who created the world is the same one who called Abraham and revealed his name to Moses: “I am who I am … the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob … a God merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (cf. Ex 3:14-15; 34:6). God does not change; he is Love, ever and always. In himself he is communion, unity in Trinity, and all his words and works are directed to communion. The Incarnation is the culmination of creation. When Jesus, the Son of God incarnate, was formed in the womb of Mary by the will of the Father and the working of the Holy Spirit, creation reached its high point. The ordering principle of the universe, the Logos, began to exist in the world, in a certain time and space.

“The Word became flesh”. The light of this truth is revealed to those who receive it in faith, for it is a mystery of love. Only those who are open to love are enveloped in the light of Christmas. So it was on that night in Bethlehem, and so it is today. The Incarnation of the Son of God is an event which occurred within history, while at the same time transcending history. In the night of the world a new light was kindled, one which lets itself be seen by the simple eyes of faith, by the meek and humble hearts of those who await the Savior. If the truth were a mere mathematical formula, in some sense it would impose itself by its own power. But if Truth is Love, it calls for faith, for the “yes” of our hearts.

And what do our hearts, in effect, seek, if not a Truth which is also Love? Children seek it with their questions, so disarming and stimulating; young people seek it in their eagerness to discover the deepest meaning of their life; adults seek it in order to guide and sustain their commitments in the family and the workplace; the elderly seek it in order to grant completion to their earthly existence.

“The Word became flesh”. The proclamation of Christmas is also a light for all peoples, for the collective journey of humanity. “Emmanuel”, God-with-us, has come as King of justice and peace. We know that his Kingdom is not of this world, and yet it is more important than all the kingdoms of this world. It is like the leaven of humanity: were it lacking, the energy to work for true development would flag: the impulse to work together for the common good, in the disinterested service of our neighbor, in the peaceful struggle for justice. Belief in the God who desired to share in our history constantly encourages us in our own commitment to that history, for all its contradictions. It is a source of hope for everyone whose dignity is offended and violated, since the one born in Bethlehem came to set every man and woman free from the source of all enslavement.

May the light of Christmas shine forth anew in the Land where Jesus was born, and inspire Israelis and Palestinians to strive for a just and peaceful coexistence. May the comforting message of the coming of Emmanuel ease the pain and bring consolation amid their trials to the beloved Christian communities in Iraq and throughout the Middle East; may it bring them comfort and hope for the future and bring the leaders of nations to show them effective solidarity. May it also be so for those in Haiti who still suffer in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and the recent cholera epidemic. May the same hold true not only for those in Colombia and Venezuela, but also in Guatemala and Costa Rica, who recently suffered natural disasters.

May the birth of the Savior open horizons of lasting peace and authentic progress for the peoples of Somalia, Darfur and Côte d’Ivoire; may it promote political and social stability in Madagascar; may it bring security and respect for human rights in Afghanistan and in Pakistan; may it encourage dialogue between Nicaragua and Costa Rica; and may it advance reconciliation on the Korean peninsula.

May the birth of the Savior strengthen the spirit of faith, patience and courage of the faithful of the Church in mainland China, that they may not lose heart through the limitations imposed on their freedom of religion and conscience but, persevering in fidelity to Christ and his Church, may keep alive the flame of hope. May the love of “God-with-us” grant perseverance to all those Christian communities enduring discrimination and persecution, and inspire political and religious leaders to be committed to full respect for the religious freedom of all.

Dear brothers and sisters, “the Word became flesh”; he came to dwell among us; he is Emmanuel, the God who became close to us. Together let us contemplate this great mystery of love; let our hearts be filled with the light which shines in the stable of Bethlehem! To everyone, a Merry Christmas!

 

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For Unto Us a Child is Born

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Susan Kehoe

A blessed Christmas to all of you!

We  are just now emerging from  the darkness to celebrate the great mystery of our Creator entering into His own creation.

Blogging will be on and off for a few days. Deacon hubby is actually taking a few days off. I just wish that we could be with our children and grandchildren. But God the Father knows best.

Please pray for my husband Deacon Larry. He is under a great deal of stress right now even as he trusts God.

Pope Benedict gave the Thought for the Day on BBC radio 4 today in the UK. Here is a transcript:

“Recalling with great fondness my four-day visit to the United Kingdom last September, I am glad to have the opportunity to greet you once again, and indeed to greet listeners everywhere as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. Our thoughts turn back to a moment in history when God’s chosen people, the children of Israel, were living in intense expectation. They were waiting for the Messiah that God had promised to send, and they pictured him as a great leader who would rescue them from foreign domination and restore their freedom.

“God is always faithful to his promises, but he often surprises us in the way he fulfils them.”

God is always faithful to his promises, but he often surprises us in the way he fulfils them. The child that was born in Bethlehem did indeed bring liberation, but not only for the people of that time and place – he was to be the Saviour of all people throughout the world and throughout history. And it was not a political liberation that he brought, achieved through military means: rather, Christ destroyed death for ever and restored life by means of his shameful death on the Cross. And while he was born in poverty and obscurity, far from the centres of earthly power, he was none other than the Son of God. Out of love for us he took upon himself our human condition, our fragility, our vulnerability, and he opened up for us the path that leads to the fullness of life, to a share in the life of God himself. As we ponder this great mystery in our hearts this Christmas, let us give thanks to God for his goodness to us, and let us joyfully proclaim to those around us the good news that God offers us freedom from whatever weighs us down: he gives us hope, he brings us life.”

And here is a musical clip from my absolutely favorite—Handel’s Messiah. Enjoy. Pray. Feast.

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Brothers from the Bronx take on a tough Irish town

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Susan Kehoe

The Irish call Limerick stab city.  Moyross is a particularly poor and violent part of Limerick. It is a place of grinding poverty and hopelessness. Yet this is where a community of tough Franciscan friars are called to serve. PRI’s The World has the story. H/T The Anchoress

Excerpt:

People riding in an open air carriage pulled by a horse might be considered quaint if it wasn’t an indication of the troubles that beset the suburb of Moyross. Horses are sometimes used for transport, but they are often abandoned and left to wander through the gritty neighbourhood or a nearby field.

That is also where the drug deals go down.

Burnt out and boarded up houses are easy to find and so is poverty. It is just the kind of place the Franciscan friars of the Renewal were looking for.

“And we were shown this area Moyross and it seemed like a perfect place: there were burnt out houses there was graffiti on walls there dogs and horses wandering around aimlessly sometimes kids wandering around,” said Brother Shawn O’Connor. “So I said this is a good place for us to be.”

O’Connor and four other monks opened their friary here in 2007 by converting three abandoned houses into a simple residence and chapel. Shortly before they moved in, they got a reminder of how tough the neighbourhood was.

Two children were nearly burned to death when three teenagers firebombed the car they were sitting in. But O’Connor and the others saw a need and over the last three years they have worked hard to get to know the community.

Out on the street, O’Connor is trying to use the offer of cookies and chocolate to get a group of boys to talk about the meaning of Christmas — with mixed results.

“Tell me one thing about Christmas” O’Connor said.
“Uh, you get stuff from Santa,” one boy replies.

O’Connor presses on, asking them what they need to do before they can have a cookie. “Say please and thank you,” says another. After more coaxing, O’Connor gets the answer he was looking for as the troupe began to pray.

The boys, small and freckle-faced, sound like well rehearsed angels. But just steps away are a reminder of that appearances can be deceptive.

The friary’s statue of the Virgin Mary is missing her hands. One of the other boys living near here cut them off a few months back.

Read more here.

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Rebels in a Habit

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Susan Kehoe

Even as a young child I knew that I did not have a call to the religious life. There is a reason that God never blessed my mother with another daughter. But these women are amazing!

The average age is 23 and they all have college degrees. The Truth always wins out in the end. Love always conquers.

The Nashville Dominicans rock!

“It’s a mysterious call to what they describe as a love relationship with Jesus. And for them it is literal: They consider the white habit a wedding gown.

“It’s beautiful, and it’s a reminder that you are a spouse of Christ,” says Sister Mara Rose McDonnell. But it’s more than that.

“It tells others that there’s a reality beyond this world. There’s heaven. We’re all orienting ourselves towards heaven,” she says.

To the world, the habit is the most visible symbol of their commitment — one they all acknowledge exacts a price.”

Read all about the sisters here.

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Today’s O Antiphon:O Emmanuel

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Susan Kehoe

Now we come to the end of the seven O Aniphons of Advent. In scripture, seven means complete. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one — Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia — the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning,

“Tomorrow, I will come.”

Antiphon: O Emmanuel: “O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.”

(7:14). Remember “Emmanuel” means “God is with us.”

With this last antiphon our expectation finds joy now in the certainty of fulfillment. We call Jesus by one of the most personal and intimate of his titles, Emmanuel, God-with-us. We recall that in his birth from the Virgin Mary God takes on our very flesh and human nature: God coming nearer to us than we could have ever imagined! Yet he is also to be exalted above us as our king, the lawgiver and judge, the one whom we honor and obey. And he is our savior, long-expected by all creation. The final cry rises from us urgent in our need for daily salvation and forgiveness of our sins, and confident that our God will not withhold himself from us.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Isaiah 8:8 it will sweep on into Judah as a flood, and, pouring over, it will reach up to the neck; and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.

Isaiah 33:22: “Indeed the Lord will be there with us, majestic. Yes, the Lord our judge, the Lord our lawgiver, the Lord our king, he it is who will save us”.

Matt. 1:23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”

Hag. 2:7 and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts.

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Saint of the Day: St. John of Kanty

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Susan Kehoe

“The people of Olkusz in Bohemia in 1431 had every reason to be suspicious of their new pastor. They knew what a Cracow professor would think of their small rural town. But even more insulting, their town was once again being used as a dumping ground for a priest who was “in disgrace.”

John had indeed been kicked out of his university position — unjustly. Rivals who resented John’s popularity with the students had cooked up a false charge against him. John was not even allowed to appear at his own hearing or testify in his own defense. So at age 41, he was shipped off to be an apprentice pastor.

Certainly no one would have blamed John if he was furious at such injustice. However, he was determined that his new parishioners would not suffer because of what he happened to him.”

Read more about him here.

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“All Of Life is Advent”

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Susan Kehoe

So penned Fr. Alfred Delp in the last Advent of his earthly life, from a Nazi prison.  Over On the Square at First Things, William Doino Jr. has a beautiful meditation on the prison writings of Fr. Delp.

Here are a few excerpts, but do take the time to read the whole article!

“Human life, he continues, “always has an Advent dimension,” namely, “lack of fulfillment, and promise, and movement….Therefore there is no interim finality, and the attempt to create final conclusions is an old temptation of mankind. Hunger and thirst, and desert journeying, and the survival teamwork of mountaineers on a rope—these are the truth of our human condition.”

After citing the Gospel of John—“the truth will make you free”—Delp uncovers its meaning:

Truth is the essential theme of life. Everything else is only expression, result, application, consequence, testing, and practice. May God help us to wake up to ourselves and in doing so, to move from ourselves toward Him.

Every temptation to live according to other conditions is a deception. Our participation in this existential lie is really the sin for which we today—as individuals, as a generation, and as a continent—are so horribly doing penance. The way to salvation will be found only in an existential conversion and return to the truth.

Recognition of our powerlessness is part of the process of conversion. But true conversion, says Delp, is not a limp or tepid act; it is a profound transformation, a “trembling” and “quaking”—where Christ impinges upon our world, shattering it, demanding from us a radical yes or no:..”

Excerpt:

Finally, insists Fr. Delp, we should always be joyful in anticipation of the glory that awaits us; we should persevere in this life, knowing that our faith in Christ is the indestructible fact that gives it meaning.

Even as he awaited his execution with hands shackled, Fr. Delp scribbled his last Advent mediations on scraps of paper. They are striking affirmations of his faith, which bore fruit in his suffering:

We should not avoid the burdens God gives us. They lead us into the blessing of God. To those who remain faithful to the ascetic and hard life, the interior springs of reality will be unsealed, and the world is not silent as we might have thought. The silver threads of God’s mysteries within everything that is real begin sparkling and singing. The burden is blessed, because it has been recognized and carried as a burden from God.

God becomes man. Man does not become God. The human order remains and continues to be our duty, but it is consecrated. And man has become something more, something mightier. Let us trust life because this night must lead to light. Let us trust life because we do not have to live it alone. God lives it with us.

Do read Meditations for The End of Advent. You won’t be sorry!

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Today’s O Antiphon of Advent: Rex Gentium

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Susan Kehoe

King of Nations

Antiphon: “O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.”

Isaiah had prophesied, “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (9:5), and “He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” (2:4) .

The only joy of every human heart. Exactly. Yet so often we look for joy and love in all of the wrong places.  We try to find joy in alcohol, sex, material possession, drugs, success.  But only Jesus can satisfy the yearnings of the human heart.

Tessa Dahl the daughter of  Roald Dahl and Patricia Neal, at age 53 realizes that  after a lifetime of failed relationships and substance abuse, that there is a better path to happiness. She is discerning a vocation to the religious life.

I felt as if a boulder had been pushed off my heart and it was open to joy.’

She continues: ‘If I wanted to escape, I could do coke. But I don’t want to escape. I want redemption. I have so much guilt about all the pain I have caused the people I love. My cocaine habit was huge and I was probably drinking a bottle of vodka
a day.’ I felt as if a boulder had been pushed off my heart and it was open to joy.”   Read more here.

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